Best Central Air Conditioners to Buy

With introduction of different brands in the market, it's natural for a common man to get confused while buying any home appliance. In this article we have provided you the best brands of air conditioners and some basic information about them.

Saptakee Sengupta

You must have basic knowledge about air conditioners before purchasing one for your home. A centrally located air conditioner has the ability to cool your house, thereby allowing you to enjoy the temperature you desire in your surroundings. You should go through the reviews about the products containing opinions of customers in order to buy the best quality product. The quality of an air conditioner is judged by factors like reliability, warranty, efficiency, durability, and performance.

Top Rated Central Air Conditioners

A centrally located air conditioner is the ideal appliance to cool resorts, hotels, apartments, and offices. They lower energy consumption and help saving electricity. The best brands have intelligent frosting and dehumidifier system that ensure proper temperature adjustment. They also have inbuilt corrugated washable filter and programmable timer. The operation is easy and you can make adjustments with the remote control provided along with.

Sometimes machines are built with multi fold evaporator for controlling moisture. Most importantly the HVAC system (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) plays an important role in its construction. The mechanics although hardly understood by a layman, are accurate. The intricately built machine is efficient in controlling the intensity of cooling. Check out the best brands of air conditioners from the list provided below.

Maytag M1200 Series 24.5 SEER

This is one of the most efficient central air conditioners. As you can see that it has a high SEER rating, thereby the quality is undoubtedly the best. The compressor is powerful enough to maintain the indoor temperature of your house. Energy consumption being quite low proves useful for users. Product specifications include iQ Drive controller, R-410A refrigerant modulating rotary compressor, 900 rpm speed, and brushed stainless steel cabinet.

Carrier Infinity Series 24ANA1

It's a high performance central air conditioner and offers excellent climate control performance. Cooling costs are reduced and Puron refrigerant used in its cooling system is ozone friendly. Product features are top-rated programmable thermostat in user-generated HVAC, advanced system monitor to protect the compressor, 2-stage compressor, muffler system II for canceling operative noise, and internal high- and low-pressure switches.

Coleman Echelon 5T 15+ SEER Air Conditioner

Haier HC48C1VAR Central Air Conditioner

4000 BTU Ductless Split Air Conditioner

Dave Lennox Signature Collection XC15 Air Conditioner

Dave Lennox Signature Collection XC21/17 Air Conditioner

Gsc13 Goodman Central Air Conditioner

Comfort Series Central Air Conditioner

Performance Series Central Air Conditioner

York Affinity Series Model CZE 15 SEER Central Air Conditioner

Heil QuietComfort Model Number DX 1600 Central Air Conditioner

Amana Model ASXC18 18 SEER Central Air Conditioner

Trane High Efficiency XR15 Central Air Conditioner

Bryant Preferred Series Model 127A 16.5 SEER Central Air Conditioner

American Standard Platinum ZM Allegiance 20 Central Air Conditioner

Efficiency (SEER Rating)

Central air conditioner ratings are based on Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), a factor that determines the efficiency of the product. Quality products have SEER rating value of minimum 13. SEER rating of 11 and 12 are medium quality products while that below 10 are low-efficiency units. Highest efficiency air conditioners have SEER of above 14.

Air Duct

The placement of air duct is also an important factor that contributes to the quality of products. The position of the installed air duct depends on the surface area of the room and on the cooling requirements. The air duct usually runs below the ceiling when it is a single duct system. The placement of multiple ducts is completely different from single ducts. Advanced home air filters are also a part of central air conditioners. You can either select a ductless or a duct work air conditioner.

Design

In split system there is an indoor coil and outdoor condenser connected with the compressor. The refrigerant circulates between the indoor coil and outdoor condenser for cooling and dehumidifying the air. There's also a heat pump which conditions the air either by extracting heat from it or supplying heat to it from the surroundings.

The cost of central air conditioners differs according to the product quality and performance. The price increases depending upon the mechanisms and features. High-end systems offer great cooling and are expensive. The price of a central air conditioner, weighing 3.5 ton with a SEER 13, is approximately US $2,643. Installation price ranges from US $2,000 - US $15,000 which further depends on the HVAC installation. Air conditioners having duct work is costlier than ductless types. The price of the fomer ranges between US $2,000 - US $10,000 while that of the latter can be US $15,000 or more. The price is also fixed depending upon the warranty period, the efficiency, and the size.

All these factors determine the brand value of air conditioners. As already mentioned before, you can take help from customer reviews or directly discuss with dealers before making investment. It's always advised to opt for the best brand that guarantees quality, good after sales service and is efficient in keeping your home cool even during scorching summers.